Vending machine



Nov; 4, 1952 w. R. JONES 2,6 6 776 VENDING MACHINE Filed April 6, 1948 4Sheets-Sheet l .9 I I I I 1.?

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Nov. 4, 1952 w. R. JONES 2,616,776

' VENDING MACHINE Filed April 6, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Willin efon es V4 Sheet-She}t s W. R. JONES VENDING MACHINE Filed April 6, 1948 Nov. 4,1952 w. R. JONES VENDING MACHINE Nov. 4, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledApril 6, 1948 71 222553. Jbnes Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE I c f 2,616,776 l r I VENDING MACHINE Willis, Ray Jones,Norfolk, Va., asslgnor of onehalf to Melchor's Incorporated, Norfolk,Va., a corporation of Virginia Application Apriiii, 1948, SerialNo.19,322"

This invention relates to vending machines, and more particularly tosuch machines wherein the articles to be dispensed are loaded onto acarrier and successively brought to a point of delivery.

. The advantages of this type of machine have been recognized for sometime, and many such machines are in use. Thesemachines are particularlyadapted to dispensing bottled goods, as

- the bottles are maintained out; of contact with one another, and thereis little chance for the bottles to become broken. However; certainfeatures of this type of machine have been undesirable. The machines aresomewhat complicated and, therefore, expensive to manufacture andexpensive to maintain in repair. Another undesirable feature is thedelay in the actual delivery of the bottle after a coin is inserted. Theusual sequence of operation upon insertion of a coin has been: Thestarting of the motor which moves the car- 'rier to position abottle atthe discharge point; releasing the bottle and permitting it to pass fromthe machine. Thus the customer has to wait while the machine goesthrough its entire cycle of operation before he receives themerchandise.

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine of thisgeneral type which is much simpler than those now in use, whichwill bemuch less expensive to build and maintain, and will result in moretrouble-free operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a machinehaving a cycle of operation which begins with the delivery of themerchandise and, after its delivery, continues by bringing the nextarticle into delivery position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a vending machinewhich will not fail to deliver an article upon'the insertion of a coin,even though one of the article receptacles on the carrier isinadvertently left unfilled when the supply of articles is replenished,the machine being so constructed that the article carrier,-

when started, will remain in motion until an article is properlypositioned at the discharge point.

A further object of the'invention is the provision of a novel articlereceptacle for the carrier, and the release means by which the articleisdischarged. e

Other objects will become apparent from the following description of onepractical embodiment of the invention when taken in conjunction with thedrawings which accompany and form a part of this specification. v

In the drawings;

, 4Clahns. (c1. 312-96) Figure l is a vertical, transverse, sectionalview through the cabinetof a vending machine embodying the principles ofthe present invention, fine operating mechanism being shown in elevaon;i I

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2- -2 of Figure .1; x 9

Figure 3 1s a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; V

Figure 4 is'a perspective view of a portion of the cabinet framestructure and two of the .control elements of the machine;

Figure 5 is a detail view ofone member of the article holding means andthe carrier chain to which it is attached;

Figure 6 is a detail view of the other member of the article holdingmeans attached .to its carrier chain; and v H Figure 7 is a wiringdiagram of the control circuits of themachine. V Referring to thedrawings in detail, the machine isshown housed in a conventional cabinetI. The cabinet may be of any desired design and plays-no part in thepresent invention. The cabinet is secured to a supporting frame 2 whichcarries the mechanism of the machine. Frame 2 comprises four verticallegs, or corner-posts 3, attachedto one another by means of three setsof horizontally positioned angle-irons 4, 5, and 6, the angle-irons 4connecting the legs near their bottoms, angle-irons 5 near theirmid-sections,

and angle-irons 6 near their tops. The sets of angle-irons 5 and Garebridged by cross-braces I, where needed to provide supporting surfacesfor various parts of themechanism, and angle-irons 4 support a floor 8.a V

1MQunted'upon the angle-irons 5 and 6 and cross-braces l arebearings 9,in which are journaled the. ends of four horizontal shafts .Hl. Shaftsl0 carry two sprockets ll each over which carrier chains I 2 pass.Sprockets II on each shaft are spacedtfromone another so that the chainsi2, are parallel and spaced. apart a dis-.

tance somewhatgreater thanthe length of the articles tobe dispensed.

Although the present invention is capable of dispensing articles ofvarious types, shapes, sizes, etc., it is particularlyadapted to beusedin dispensing bottled goods, such as soft drinks, and for purposesofillustration is shown and described as abottle dispenser. i y

- To support an elongated article, such as a bottle,

one chain i2 has attached to it a plurality of cup-' like receptaclesyllto receive; the bases ofthe bottles. Theseareshown as being. circularand 3 having pins I 4 projecting from the centers of their undersides.For convenience in mounting, pins l4 are inserted through the chainlinks in place of the usual link pins at spaced points along the chain,and held by means of nuts [5 being threaded on their ends. The tops ofthe bottles are supported in cups (6 of much smaller diameter than thereceptacles l3, which are carried by the other chain l2. Cups l6 alsohave pins extending from their bottoms to be inserted through the linksof the chain. These pins [1 are longer than pins l4, and are free tomove axially through the chain links. Springs I8 are placed around pinsl1 between cups l6 and their supporting chain to urge the cups inwardly.The outer ends of pins I"! are reduced in diameter and threaded. WashersH! are placed on the reduced portions against the shoulders, and nutshold them in place. The pins are of such length that washers l9 arenormally spaced from the chain.

In loading the chain, a cup It is drawn back compressing its spring l8to increase the distance between the face .of the cup and the receptaclel3 which is opposite to it upon the other chain. A bottle then has itsbase inserted in the receptacle l3 and the cup .I 6 is permitted to moveinto place over the top of the bottle. This positions the bottlehorizontally and the pressure of spring l8 holds the cup l5 firmlyagainst the top of the bottle to prevent it from falling from its{supports.

The carrier mechanism is moved to advance the bottles by means of amotor 2 I. If the motor was directly connected to the carrier mechanismthe speed of the chain would be entirely too fast for the shortdistances of travel involved. Therefore, motor 2| is connected by meansof a chain 22 to the input shaft of a speed reducer 23. The output shaftof the speed reducer is connected by means of a chain 24 to one of theshafts Hi.

When the carrier is advanced, one of the bottles is brought to aposition directly above a transfer tray 25, which is tiltable, and whentilted has its outer end resting upon a discharge chute 26.

The discharge chute leads to a delivery opening 27 in the cabinetwhich-is closed by a swinging door 28. A tray 29' may be fitted to theoutside of the cabinet just-below the door to catch the bottle. Thetransfer tray is mounted upon a rotatable pivot rod 23 which has itsends journaled in brackets '30 depending from the frame members 5. Thetray is pivoted to one side of its center of gravity so that it normallyassumes a tilted position with its end out of contact with the dischargechute. When a bottle is released, as will be described later, the bottlefalls upon the tray 25 with its bottom, or heavy end, upon the raisedend of the tray. This causes the tray to tilt downward bringing its endinto contact with the discharge chute, whereupon the bottle slides fromthe cabinet.

The bottles. are released from the carrier by means of a solenoid 3|.The solenoid is hung from one of the cross-braces I on the frame members5 so that its armature 32 lies in the same vertical plane. asthe: bottlein delivery position on the carrier just below pin l T projecting fromthe cup 16 which. supports the top of that bottle. An enlargement 33. onthe end of armature 32 lies. just behind the washer l9 carried by thepin l1. When the solenoid 3| is energizedand draws back its armature,the enlargement 33 strikes washer l9 and moves pin H and cup IS in anaxial direction. against the pressure of spring l8. This moves thecup-from the top-or 4 the bottle allowing the bottle to slip from thereceptacle l3 and fall upon the transfer tray 25.

A lever 34 carrying a motor-control mercury switch 35 is pivotally hungjust above the bottle in delivery position. The mounting for the leverconsists in a bent rod 36 having one end rotatably mounted in a journal31 mounted on the frame. The other end of the rod 36 swivelly carriesthe lever 34. Journal '3! is provided with a set screw 38 to hold therod against movement when the lever is properly positioned. Lever 34supports the motor switch 35 and also a mercury switch 39 forcontrolling the coin chute upon its horizontal arm 40. Vertical arm 4|of the lever hanesin the path of movement of the bottles on the carrier.As'a bottle moves to discharge position, it will strike arm 4| of lever34, moving it slightly, and causing arm 40 to rise tilting the switchesit carries. When the bottle is released from the carrier, lever 34 willswing in the opposite direction causing operation' of the mercuryswitches 35 and 39.

Close to the lever 34 there is a second lever 42, -whichcarries, anothermercury switch 43 controlling the motor, and a mercury switch 44 in thecircuit of a'light 'which is illuminated when the supply of bottles onthe carrier is exhausted. Lever 42 is also supported upon a bent rod 45which is rotatable in a journal '46 on the frame. A set screw 41 holdsthe rod against turningwhen the lever 42 has been properly positioned.Lever 42 has a downwardly curving arm 48 which conforms roughly to thepath of travel of the bottles on the carrier. When the receptacles onthe carrier are filled, the arm 48 contacts several ofthebottlesadjacent the delivery position. This holds theswitch-carrying portion ofthe lever elevated. When these receptacles are empty, the lever willswing, tilting the switches in. the opposite direction. If one of thereceptacles is inadvertently left empty, the contact of arm '48 withadjacent bottles will prevent the leverfrom swinging.

.Switches 35, .39, 43 and 44 are included in electricalcircuits whichcontrol the automatic operation of the machine after the operation hasbeen initiatedby the insertion of a coin. Referring to Figure 7 ,powerfor the circuits is taken in through the leads 49 and 50, which areconnected to the-primaryof a step-down transformer 5|. The line voltagesupplied to the leads 49 and 50' is used to operate the motor andbottle-releasev solenoid, but the control elements are operated by lowervoltage current taken from the secondary. of the transformer 5!. Thecoin control box 'used: isconventional, and is indicated at 52. It mayinclude a coin chute 53 which has branches 54 and 55-, branch 54leading: to a coin box (not shown), and branch 55 returning the coin tothe purchaser if the carrier isempty orno bottle is at the deliveryposition. The chute is provided with a slot 56 in the side where thechute forks, and a pin 57 passes through the slot and bridges the chute.Pin 51: is movable the length of the slot so that itmay blockeitherbranch". The pin is moved by'means' of as'ol'enoid-58- to blockbranch 55, and spring 59 moves the pin to block branch 54 when thesolenoid is deenergi'zed. Solenoid 58 is connected to the-secondary ofthe transformer by line 60 and line 6-1 which includes mercury switch.39. Whenever a bottle in delivery position, lever 34 is tilted sothat'swi tch as is in closed position and solenoid 58 isenerg-izedholding"; the branch chute 54- open so that a coin may pass to the 'coinbox.

Branch chute 54 contains contacts 62 and 53 which are bridged by thecoin as it passes down the chute.- These contacts are part of a circuitwhich consists of wire 64 from the secondary of thetransformer, the coilof relay 65, wire 66, contacts 62, 63,v wire. 61, relay 68, wire 69,mercury switch which is carried by the transfer tray 25 and is closedwhen the tray is in inoperative position, andwire 1|. Thus when a coinis dropped in the chute and passes down branch 54.bridging contacts ,62,63, relays 65 and 68 will be energized. As the closing of the contactsis butmomentary, 1 relay '65 is employed to close contacts12, 13in abridge wire 14 across the contacts 62, 53 and hold the circuit after thecoin has passed from between contacts 62,53; Relay 68 serves to closeacircuit through the release solenoid 3!. The relay contacts 15, 15 arein a line;1 1, from the high voltage line to the solenoid. Wire 18returnsfrom the solenoid to the line.

When the above circuits havebeen closed, sole-- noid 3| acts to releasea bottle irom the carrier. The bottle, dropping upon tray 25, will causethe tray to tilt, opening switch 10 which willbreak the circuit 1through relays 65, and 68. M When relay 68 is ,deenergized, the circuitthrough the release solenoid will be broken. I

As the bottle dropped from the carrier, it released lever 34, permittingit to swing tilting the switches. '35 and 39. Switch 33, as describedabove, controls solenoid 58 and thereby the pin 51in the coin chute.This solenoid is normally energized, holding the pin 51 in position toblock branch chute 55 which is the coin return. When a bottle isreleased and lever 34 tilts, the circuit is broken and pin 51 movesunder the influence of spring 59 to block branch chute 54 so that if asecond coin is inserted before another bottle has been brought to thedelivery point the coin will be returned. The solenoid 58 is normallyenergized and the coin return blocked so that in the event of a powerfailure the pin 51 will block the branch chute 54, so that any coinswhich are dropped into the machine will be returned. 7

l The tilting of switch 35 when a bottle is released closes a circuitthrough relay 19, which circuit includes wire 80 from the secondary ofthe transformer, switches 35 and 43, and line 8| to the low voltageline. The closing of this circuit causes relay 19 to close contacts 82,83 which are in a line 84 which includes motor 2|. So when a bottle isreleased the coin chute branch 54 to the coin box is closed, and motor2| is started to move the carrier to bring another bottle to thedelivery position. As the bottle approaches delivery position itcontacts arm 4| of lever 34 and tilts the lever reenergizing solenoid 58to open branch chute 54, and opens switch 35 stopping the motor.

When the last bottle is delivered from the machine, lever 42 will befree to swing, tilting switches 43 and 44. This will break the motorcircuit so that the tilting of lever 34 and switch 35 will have noeiiect. The tilting of switch 44 which is in circuit with an electriclamp 85 will cause the lamp to light as an indication that themerchandise has been sold out. When switch 39 tilts, of course, branchchute 54 will be blocked so that any coin inserted will be returned.

To reload the carrier, the top of the cabinet is raised, set screws 38and 41 loosened, and levers 34 and 42 swung out from between the carrierchains. Each of the article holders is then filled by inserting-thebase'oi. a bottle into the receptacle l3, retracting the cup [6, andpermitting the-cup to seat over the top of the bottle underthe'iniiuencev of spring Hi. When all of the holders are filled, levers34 and 42 are swung back into place and set'screws 38 and 41 tightenedto hold them in position. a The unit is now ready for use. Extra bottlesmay be stored in the bottom of the cabinet in cases as shown in Figurel. 1'

Although one practical embodiment has been described and illustratedherein, it will be obvious that changes may be made from the precisestructure shown without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

4 WhatIclaim is: g Y

1. In dispensing mechanism, a pair of vertically positioned horizontally.spaced' parallel endless chains, means to advance said chains inunison, article holders. spaced along said chains, each holdercomprising a pair'of companion members. one of said members being acup-like receptacle secured to one of said chains and the othermemberb'eing a cup-like receptacle slidably mounted in'the other chain,the two members being mount ed upon'said'cha'ins in axial alignment andsaid slidable memberbeingmovable in an'axial direction, a spring to urgesaid slidable member toward its companion member to engage an article,means to move said slidable member against the urge of said spring torelease an article from said holder, means to start said chain advancingmeans upon thefrelease of an article comprising, a pivoted membercarrying amercury control switch for said chainadvancing means, saidpivoted member having an arm lying in the path of movement of articlesin said holders to move said arm to tilt said switch to open positionwhen engaged by one of said articles and to permit said pivoted memberto swing by gravity when said article is released from its holder totilt said switch to closed position.

2. In dispensing mechanism, a pair of vertically positioned horizontallyspaced parallel endless chains, means to advance said chains in unison,article holders spaced along said chains, each holder comprising a pairof companion members, one of said members being a cup-like receptaclesecured to one of said chains and the other member being a cup-likereceptacle slidably mounted in the other chain, the two members beingmounted upon said chains in axial alignment and said slidable memberbeing movable in an axial direction, a spring to urge said slidablemember toward its companion member to engage an article, means to movesaid slidable member against the urge of said spring to release anarticle from said holder, and a control switch for said chain advancingmeans having a movable arm intersecting the path of travel of the axesof said cup-like receptacles and positioned intermediate the receptaclesof the pairs, whereby the respective receptacles of each pair pass onopposite sides of said switch arm when said chains advance.

3. In dispensing mechanism, a pair of verticaly positioned horizontallyspaced parallel endless chains, means to advance said chains in unison,article holders spaced along said chains, each holder comprising a pairof companion members, one of said members being a cup-like receptaclesecured to one 01 said chains and the other member being a cup-likereceptacle slidably mounted in the other chain, the two members beingmounted upon said chains in axial alignsmears ment and said slidablemember being "movable in an axial direction, -a spring to urge .saidslidable member toward its companion member to engage an article, meansto move said slida'ble member against the urge of said springlto'relea'se an article from said holder, and "a control switch for saidchain advancing means having a movable arm to contact articles carriedbetween said "cuplike receptacle pairs, said switch being held in closedposition when said arm is in contact with said articles, said am beingof su'flicient length in the direction or movement of said chain to spana space equal to at least "the distance between the axes of alternatepairs of receptacles.

4. In dispensing mechanism, a pair of vertically positioned horizontallyspaced parallel endless chains, means to advance said chains in unison,article holders spaced along said chains, each holder comprising a pairof companion members, one of said members being a cup-like receptaclesecured to one of said chains and the other member being a cup-likereceptacle slidably mounted in the other chain, the two members beingmounted upon said chains in axial alignment and said 'slidable memberbeing movable in "an axial direction, "a spring to urge said slidablemember toward itscompanion member to engage an article, means to "movesaid sliclable member against the urge of said spring to release anarticle from said holder, a control switch for said chain advancingmeans and a movable arm intersecting the path of travel of the axes ofsaid cup-like receptacles and positioned intermediate the receptacles ofthe pairs, whereby the 8. respective receptacles of each pair pass onopposite sides of said switch arm when said chain advances, and a secondcontrol switch for said chain advancing means having a movable arm tocontact articles carried between "said cup-like receptacle pairs, saidsecond control switch being held in closed position when its said arm isin contact with said articles, the said arm of said second controlswitch being of suflicient length in the direction of movement of saidchain to span a space equal to at least the distance between the axes ofalternate pairs of receptacles.

WILLIS RAY JONES.

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